Category: irvine

Newsom Clears Way for Study of Orange County Veterans Cemetery Potential Site

The effort to build a veterans cemetery in Orange County cleared another hurdle Sept. 27 after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation to allow the study of a potential site for the project. Assembly Bill 1595, authored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), requires the state veterans’ department to study, design, and construct a state-owned and state-operated…


Co-Founder of Irvine Watchdog Is Running for Mayor

Branda Lin—co-founder of the nonprofit Irvine Watchdog, a local news source established in 2019, and a Community Services commissioner under Mayor Farrah Khan—is running to be elected Irvine’s mayor in the Nov. 8 election. “For the past four years I have dedicated myself to local municipal issues and led a group of dedicated volunteers through Irvine Watchdog…


California Man Gets 4 Years in Prison for Stealing Over $5 Million in COVID Loans

An Orange County man was sentenced Sept. 26 to four years in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $5 million in COVID-19 relief loans to buy properties in Eagle Rock, Malibu, and Irvine. Reddy Budamala, 36, of Irvine, was also ordered to pay $5.15 million in restitution to the Small Business Administration, according to the…


One Killed, Two Injured in Fiery Multi-Vehicle Freeway Crash in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif.—One person was killed and two others injured Sept. 24 during a multi-vehicle crash on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Irvine that included a well-involved semi-truck fire, authorities said. The crash occurred a little after 4 a.m on the southbound freeway at Jamboree Road, the California Highway Patrol reported. Firefighters and paramedics dispatched…


One Killed, 2 Injured in Fiery Multi-Vehicle Freeway Crash in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif.—A man was killed and two others injured Sept. 24 during a multi-vehicle crash on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Irvine that included a well-involved big rig fire, authorities said. The man who died was 59-year-old Daniel Franco of Lake Forest, according to Orange County sheriff’s Sgt. Todd Hylton. The crash occurred a…


College Student Runs for Irvine City Council

High internet prices and slow speeds became the number one factor for one Irvine Valley College student to launch his campaign for a seat on the Irvine City Council, which will be decided in the upcoming Nov. 8 election. Navid Sadigh, 19, said there is only one internet provider available at his home creating a…


Family’s Decades of Donations to Hoag Hospital Reaches $134 Million After Recent Gift

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has received a $106 million donation—the largest in its 70-year history—which will help fund research, expansion, and treatment capabilities. Officials announced Sept. 15 that the donation will boost the hospital’s growth, after Hoag became independent of Providence Health in January 2022 after a 10-year affiliation. According to Robert Braithwaite, president and chief…


Orange County Soccer Club’s Use of Great Park Stadium Extended One Year

The Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) will be able to continue using the Great Park Championship Stadium in Irvine, Calif., until November 2023, after their contract with the city was extended. The original contract was set to expire or be reinstated for another two years in November. However, the city council began exploring two other…


OC to Ask State to Start Studying Potential Anaheim Hills Veterans Cemetery Site

Orange County Supervisors voted this week to ask California’s Department of Veterans Affairs and the state to begin a feasibility study to build a veterans cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills. Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to sign Assembly Bill 1595, a measure passed by the Legislature that requires the veterans’ department to acquire,…


OC to Ask State to Study Potential Anaheim Hills Veterans Cemetery Site

Orange County Supervisors voted this week to ask California’s Department of Veterans Affairs and the state to begin a feasibility study to build a veterans cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills. Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to sign Assembly Bill 1595, a measure passed by the Legislature that requires the veterans’ department to acquire,…